Cuphea plant named &#39;Wescuflodia&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  cuphea  plant having red-purple colored flowers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/499,931, filed Feb. 7, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Cuphea hyssopifolia.

Varietal denomination: ‘Wescuflodia’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of cuphea plant known by the varietal name ‘Wescuflodia’. The new variety was discovered in June of 2015 in Worms, Germany as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing cuphea plants with improved growing characteristics and better garden performance. The new variety is the result of a mutation of a Cuphea hyssopifolia variety from the breeder's proprietary collected referred to as UNGCU15 (unpatented). The new variety is similar to UNGCU15 in flower color, but exhibits earlier development, a more compact habit, and larger flowers than UNGCU15. The first asexual reproduction of the new variety was conducted by cuttings in June of 2015 in Worms, Germany. ‘Wescuflodia’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

When ‘Wescuflodia’ is compared to Cuphea hyssopifolia ‘Wecuflomig’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. __/___,___ , filed on Feb. 7, 2018), the varieties are similar in plant form, branching habit, and leaf color. However, the varieties differ in flower color (‘Wescuflomig’ has pale pink colored flowers) and size, as well as anther number.

The following traits distinguish ‘Wescuflodia’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other cuphea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Flower size;     -   2. Flowering period;     -   3. Flower color; and     -   4. Growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing taken at approximately 11 months of age illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 illustrates an entire flowering plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety at approximately 11 months of age. The data which defines these characteristics was collected indoors in Südlohn-Oeding, Germany under inflorescent light in the Winter. Plants of the new variety were grown in the Winter in Germany in a glass greenhouse under artificial light levels of 3,000 lx for 16 hours per day in 17.8 cm pots. Color references are primarily to the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—About 20 days at an             average of 20° C.         -   Number of days to develop roots.—About 30 days at an average             of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a finished, flowered plant from a rooted             cutting.—About 12 to 16 weeks in a 12 cm container.         -   Rooting habit.—Fibrous.         -   Overall plant shape.—Upright, mounded, and symmetrical.         -   Plant height.—Approximately 27 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—Approximately 43 cm.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Branching.—Habit: Moderate basal branching. Lateral             branches: Length: 11 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Internode length:             1 cm. Texture: Slightly rough with pubescence present.             Color: 146D.         -   Foliage.—Appearance: Alternate. Number of leaves per branch:             About 24, with indeterminate growth. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Length: 3.7 cm.             Width: 1.3 cm. Texture: Smooth. Aspect: Flat. Color: Young             leaves: Upper surface: 137A. Lower surface: 138A. Mature             leaves: Upper surface: 136B. Lower surface: 138A. Veins:             Venation type: Pinnate. Color: One shade lighter than leaf             color of respective maturity and surface. Petiole: Length:             0.4 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm. Color: 146D. -   Flowers:     -   -   Buds (described right before color is visible—petals not             visible).—         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—145B at the top and 143C at the bottom.         -   Flower.—Natural flowering season: From April until             October/frost in Germany. Flower type and habit: Single and             continuous. Number of flowers per lateral branch: From 1 to             3 at a time, with indeterminate growth. Flower longevity: 2             to 5 days on the plant. Lastingness of a cut flower: Not             applicable. Diameter: 1.7 cm. Height: 1.4 cm. Throat             diameter: 0.2 cm.         -   Corolla.—Form: Actinomorphic and zygomorphic. Appearance:             Smooth and crinkled. Petals/lobes: Number per flower: 6.             Length: 0.8 cm. Width: 0.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic and fused             with sepals. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused with sepals. Margin:             Entire. Aspect: Flat and slightly incurved. Texture (both             surfaces): Smooth and crinkled. Color: Upper surface (when             opening): N74A. Lower surface (when opening): N74A. Upper             surface (fully opened): N74A. Lower surface (fully opened):             N74A. Throat: Texture: Smooth, with pubescence present at             the upper end. Color: Greenish-cream. Tube color: N144C.         -   Calyx.—Form: Fused. Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Sepals: Fused to tube, having a smooth texture and color of             N144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—         -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): About 6. Filament: Length:             Less than 0.5 cm. Anthers: Shape: Dorsifixed. Length: About             0.1 cm. Color: Grey. Pollen: Color: Grey. Amount             (generally): Minimal.         -   Pistils.—Length: 0.3 cm. Style: Length: 0.3 cm. Color:             White. Stigma: Shape: Thin. Color: White. -   General:     -   -   Disease/pest resistance or susceptibility.—None observed.         -   Cold temperature tolerance.—Intolerant to frost.         -   Fragrance.—None observed.         -   Seed production.—Minimal. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of cuphea plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 